A wardrobe of Whisky Blog - tasting notes, collection and best shops for buying whisky online A wardrobe of Whisky Blog - tasting notes, collection and best shops for buying whisky online
Login
“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

Read stories about The Balvenie of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
The articles are sorted by publication date. You can either browse here, check the featured articles section or use the search bar on the top of this page.

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Review

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

When I first read about Balvenie Tun 1401 I was quite excited because I love the idea and lots of people seemed to love the whisky. I was quite dissappointed when I learnt that it was beyond my pocket size at launch time…

So I forget about it until I recently found a sample of it for a reasonable price. And so I tasted…

“All the lovely Oloroso character of Balvenie with a touch of sweet sherry. SImply gorgeous...if only it wasn't so expensive”

91
Balvenie Tun 1401 - Batch 2
The long awaited follow up to the distillery only first batch, Tun 1401 Batch 2 is named for Malt Master David Stewart's favourite marrying tun, used to create this whisky. It's a multi-vintage combination of sherry and bourbon cask whiskies from the late 1960s through to the late 1980s and elegantly blends age and (comparative) youthful vigour.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. nuts, wood, honey, citrus, sulphur, peaches.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. nuts, honey, citrus, spices, flowers, pepper, vanilla, liquorice. Fantastic flavor!

Finish (91): longer than average. honey, liquorice, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie Tun 1401 - Batch 2 with 91 points over 100.

My advice is Buy if you can afford, it is a sensational dram, but it is too expensive for my pocket. Much like the excelent Balvenie 30 years old… Damn!


Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

Balvenie 17 years old Doublewood Review

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

I always have at home a bottle of Balvenie 12 years old Doublewood. I love it. It is a good whisky with lots of flavour and a very interesting price. So I was quite happy when I knew that The Balvenie released a 17 years old Doublewood.

The Balvenie 17 years old is “slightly” more expensive than the 12 years old. So my question and the one you perhaps are asking yourself, Is it worth the price?

“Quite nice Balvenie with a hint of age not seen on the younger versions. A real nice treat if you ask me”

90
Balvenie 17 Year Old / DoubleWood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Another fantastic invention from the workbench of Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart - a 17 year old version of the best selling DoubleWood. Still initially matured in'Whisky Oak' casks before being switched to sherry wood to finish, the extra years give it extra depth without being overpowering.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, spices, cinnamon, vanilla, tobacco, wood.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, vanilla, wood, cinnamon, vanilla, nuts, candies.

Finish (90): longer than average. candies, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 17 Year Old / DoubleWood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 90 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:


Well, it is a quite nice whisky. I bought one bottle but if you ask me if I will change my 12 years old for this one I have to say that I don’t.


Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

Tasting Balvenie 14 years old Caribbean Cask

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

“Nice Balvenie whisky. Really sweet with a good amont of vanilla and candies. I like it”

90
Balvenie 14 Year Old / Caribbean Cask Speyside Whisky
A 14 year old whisky distilled at Balvenie distillery, matured in casks which previously held Caribbean Rum. Expect vanilla and toffee notes.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): average. honey, vanilla, pepper, candies.

Palate (90): smooth, oily. honey, vanilla, anise, smoke, pepper, candies, citrus.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, floral, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 14 Year Old / Caribbean Cask Speyside Whisky with 90 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:



Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

TWE Whisky Show 2012: What I couldn't taste [Part 4]

By Miguel in Laphroaig , Cooley , Chivas , Johnnie Walker , The Macallan , Dewar , Penderyn , Bunnahabhain , Compass Box , Monkey Shoulder , Glenfiddich , The Balvenie , Kilchoman , Highland Park , Bowmore , Yoichi , Nikka , Suntory , Balblair , Redbreast , Glenfarclas , Connemara , Ichiro , Rosebank , Benriach , Glendronach , Old Pulteney , Dalmore , Glen Garioch , Big Peat , Glenglassaugh , Glenrothes , Maker's Mark , Hibiki , Four Roses , Glencadam , Wemyss , Douglas Laing

This post continue from TWE Whisky Show [Part 3]

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2012 took place at October 6th and 7th and although it has been a great experience it has been a short one. With over 450 whiskies to taste and just barely six hours ahead it was impossible to taste them all.

What I couldn’t taste

This post is just a set of photos of what I couldn’t taste. Sorry, people… I can write about this because I get sad… so great stuff that I had to skip… *sniff*

I visited Compass Box stand for saying hi to Chris and I take a few photos with the people on the show.

Read the full story »


Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

TWE Whisky Show 2012 [Part 1]

By Miguel in Featured , Jameson , Glenlivet , Chivas , Johnnie Walker , Cardhu , The Balvenie , Talisker , Kavalan , Brora

Taking place during October, 6th and 7th, The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is a fantastic, although expensive, experience that you can’t miss if like me you love single malt whiskies.

fun-that-way-twe-whisky-show-london-2012

Day One

Here I am! In London! For TWE Whisky Show. As Oliver Klimet from Dramming is also going to attend it we plan together a meeting in London for a few beers and nice british pub food at Lord Wargraves. Billy Abbot from The Whisky Exchange also join us.

Read the full story »


Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

The Balvenie 30 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

“It is a real pity it is so expensive, because it is an awesome whisky.”

93
Balvenie 30 year
Drawing on more than three decades experience our Malt Master David Stewart has created the Balvenie Thirty from a selection of the finest vintage casks laid down during his early years at the Balvenie Distillery.

A marriage of Balvenie aged in traditional whisky oak casks and European oak sherry casks. Thirty is a rich and mellow single malt with unusual depth and complexity.

Very expensive, elitist, deluxe, yeah, it is simply the best Balvenie I have ever tried. Save for this one!

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (93): strong. candies, vanilla, wood, nuts, citrus, floral. It is a mystic experience to nose how the honey present in younger Balvenies turns into candies on this granma. Delicious.

Palate (94): oily, viscous, powerful. candies, wood, spices, honey, floral, citrus, nuts.

Finish (93): very long. floral, honey, vanilla, peaches, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 30 year with 93 points over 100.

Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

The Balvenie 17 years old Rum Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie
86
Balvenie 17 year Rum Cask
This Balvenie offering was matured for 17 years in casks which previously held Jamaican rum.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (84): strong. molasses, citrus, a little vanilla, floral.

Palate (88): smooth, oily, powerful. honey, peaches, wood, spices, incense, floral, sugar cane.

Finish (87): longer than average. floral, brown sugar, cinnamon.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 17 year Rum Cask with 86 points over 100.

Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.

The Balvenie 17 years old Madeira Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

“Incredible taste. The Madeira wine cask does a great job on the whisky.”

91
Balvenie 17 year Madeira Cask
Part of Balvenie's group of six limited edition cask finished 17 years old single malts.

This Balvenie whisky was initially matured in traditional oak casks before a finish in Madeira fortified wine casks.

The finish does a great work on this whisky delivering a torrent of sweet fruits and spices. I love it.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): strong. peaches, a little raisins, a little honey, vanilla, cocoa, citrus.

Palate (92): smooth, oily, powerful. peaches, wood, spices, tobacco, cocoa. It is not exactly peaches taste, but a torrent of fruit, wood and spices altogether.

Finish (91): long. honey, citrus, floral, raisins, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 17 year Madeira Cask with 91 points over 100.

Write a comment Share your thoughts! comments written.